Concert venues across the country have shuttered operations due to the coronavirus pandemic, and Santa Barbara's arts scene has not been excluded from the tough economic hit. The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, launched yesterday, is a national aid program meant to help carry venues through the COVID-19 pandemic until concerts and other events can be held again.
The grant provides a total of $16.5 billion through the U.S. Small Business Administration to aid live venue operators and promoters, theatrical producers, museum operators, movie theater operators, and more. These operators can receive up to 45 percent of lost earned revenue from the past year, up to $10 million.
Congressmember Salud Carbajal spoke in a press conference Thursday afternoon from the Scranton Overlook of the Santa Barbara Bowl to discuss how the grant would benefit Santa Barbara–area venue operators such as the Bowl.